Turco thrilled to associated with Esposito

New Hawk idolized legendary goalie while growing up

With the number he has worn for all of his 10 NHL seasons already hanging from the United Center rafters, Marty Turco had to make a switch after signing with the Blackhawks.

Considering who made that No. 35 unavailable made the change palatable for the veteran goaltender.

"The reason I wore 35 my whole life was all due to Tony Esposito," said Turco, who is from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the same hometown as legendary net-minder Esposito. "The chance to play for an Original Six team here in Chicago, to be a Blackhawk and to wear the same jersey that Tony wore is something that's irreplaceable. It's an opportunity that I take very dearly and Tony is a big part of that."

Turco, who will wear No. 30 as the Hawks' starting goaltender when the season begins in October, appeared at the United Center on Tuesday for a news conference to introduce the free agent who signed a one-year deal Aug. 2.

The 35-year-old inked a salary-cap-friendly contract of $1.3 million to take over the reigns from the departed Antti Niemi in an effort to add a Stanley Cup championship to his impressive résumé that includes 262 career victories and a 2.31 goals-against average, second lowest among active NHL goalies.

"The opportunity to come to Chicago and play for a winner was the most important thing," said Turco, who reportedly turned down more lucrative offers to join the Hawks. "These kids looked like they had some fun last year and I want to be a part of it."

After a summer of shedding players from the championship team to get under the NHL's salary cap, the Hawks added a possible future Hall of Famer in Turco as they get ready to defend their first Stanley Cup since 1961.

"This is his prime, the next three, four or five years," Esposito said. "He's at his peak now these next few years. He can play for another several years, and with this defense we have he will do really well."